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Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show Recap

This past Sunday I attended the 9th Annual Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show held at the Japanese Cultural Centre. I was given the opportunity to speak with many local business owners with a passion for advocating the importance of embracing not only the roots that grow from your head but ancestry ones as well. It was amazing to see how much local talent there is within the Afro/Caribbean Canadian community and the organizations out there that support the essence of the show. From the talent, designers, to the delicious food (best vegetarian patty I’ve had in my life!) the Toronto Natural Hair & Beauty Show exceeded my expectations. Being a fashionista, my favourite part of the day was of course the hair and fashion shows. I tried to get around to each section of the show, there was soooo many things to take in, I get why this is a 2-day event! For a full listing of the show’s performers, vendors and sponsors, check out the event site here. I’d advise all those attending next year bring a camera, a bag for all your goodies and comfy shoes.

A special thank you to the organizers of this epic 2-day show Stephanie Joseph & Marsha Patterson. Thank you ladies for giving us naturalistas of the GTA an event to embrace and educate one another on the importance of loving our curls! See you in 2015!

The show started off strong with a showcase of the unique designs of Unitees, a family-owned clothing company based in Washington, DC. The unique tie-dye jumpsuits, skirts, and t-shirt dresses were beautiful. I definitely snoozed by heading over to the table a bit too late after the show – all the items I wanted were SOLD OUT! Sad for me, happy for the people who get to rock those one of a kind pieces.

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The plus size ‘Kurves are In’ showcase presented by Ophilia’s Kurves featured ‘Size Sexy’ t-shirts designed by model Tierra Sedgemore & fashions from SexyPlus Clothing. Seeing confident voluptusous ladies of all shapes, shades and sizes was a breath of fresh air the typical model standard. They strutted their stuff and proved sexy is not a size but a state of mind.

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Victorious Me – is a clothing line for ‘fashionable expression without exposure’ was a modern showcase of clothing that was styled great and had an air of class. I loved how the models moved the long hems and were just as alluring being covered from head to toe as any typical runway half covered model.

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Hair by Glenna did a fabulous hair show of funky natural styles she created and later explained. I follow her on social media and she always has modern styles and great hair care advice, check her out!

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Twisted Sistahs did a another great hair showcase with a 80s/90s theme and a beautiful wedding style.

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LaShawn Benning of Just Cuts in New York did a live big shop of a model who went from a middle parted fro to an edgy tapered mohawk she later got to model during a fashion show. Kudos to the brave model!

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Locs by Cam (cute logo!) did a HUGE natural hair showcase of cool hairdos, some I’d never thought of before like incorporating braid extensions with dreadlocks.